One-way reactance device



March 1, 1932. A. Y. DODGE 1,847,867

ONE-WAY REACTANCE DEVICE Filed Sept. 29, 1930 Patented Mar. 1, 1932 UNITED STATES ADIEI Y. DODGE, OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA ONE-WAY REACTANCE DEVICE Application filed September 28, 1880. Serial No. 484,972.

' My invention relates to reactance devices. One of the objects of my invention is to provide an improved reversible one way reactance device of the type in which a flexible l strap or spring is wrapped about a rotatable shaft and so designed as to permit rotation of the shaft in one direction and prevent rotation in the opposite direction and in which the action of the clutch may be reversed.

Further objects will appear from the description in the claims.

In the drawings, in which two embodiments of my invention are shown,

Figure 1 is a plan view of a reversible one- 16 way reactance device embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig.

1; and

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view showing another form.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and first to Figs. 1 and 2, the construction shown therein comprises a shaft 1 subject to oppositely-acting rotational'impulses (one example of such a condition being in certain types of automobile transmission), a flexible strap 2 wrapped around said shaft, two anchorage members 3 and 4, one for each end of the flexible strap, and means for selectively rendering one or the other of said anchorage members eflective, whereby with one setting of the selective means rotational impulses in one direction are rendered effective and rotational impulses in the opposite direction are rendered ineffective, and whereby with the opposite setting of the anchorage members the direction of effective and ineffective impulses is reversed.

Before describing in further detail the construction I will briefly outline the operation. If it is desired that the clockwise impulses only, as seen in Fig. 2, shall be effective (the counterclockwise impulses being inefl'ective), the circular cam 5 is moved to a position which will hold the pivoted anchorage member 3 firmly in fixed position, leaving the other pivoted anchorage member 4 free to move to the ri ht against the action of the coil tension spring 6. With this setting there will be very little resistance to a clockwise im- .pulse, but a very great resistance to a counterclockwise movement, since the ri ht-hand end Fig. 2, thus holding the left-hand pivoted to anchorage member 4 firml against the abutment 7, and permitting t e right-hand anchorage member 3 to yield under the action of the flexible strap -2 against the tension of the coil spring 8.

Referring in further detail to the construction, the shaft may be provided with a series of longitudinally extending grooves 9 lying underneath the strap 2, the purpose of which is to break the oil film, thus increasing the m clutching action. The ends of the straps may be secured to the pivoted abutment members by means of cap screws 10 or in any suitable manner. The pivoted abutment members may be pivotally mounted on parallel shafts 1 ll The construction shown in Fig. 3 may be substantially the same as that just described, except that here two circular cams 12 are provided for controlling the position of the pivat oted anchorage members 3 and 4 and selectively holding them in fixed position against the abutment members 13.

While I have shown but two embodiment-s of my invention, it is to be understood that l various modifications thereof may be apparent to those skilled in the art without de parting from the spirit and scope of this invention, and, therefore, the same is to be limited only by the scope of the prior art and O the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination with a shaft, of means for rectifying oppositely acting rotational impulses acting thereon comprising a twoended flexible member wrapped around said shaft, two anchorage means, one for each end of said flexible member, and means for selectively rendering one or the other of said anchorage means efi'ective, whereby rota- I tional impulses in one direction are rendered effective and rotational. impulses in the opposite direction are rendered ineffective, and vice versa.

2. In combination with a shaft, of means for rectifying oppositely acting rotational impulses acting thereon comprising a two ended flexible member wrapped around said shaft, two anchorage means, one for each end of said flexible member, and means for selectively rendering one or the other of said anchorage means effective, whereby rotational impulses in one direction are rendered effective and rotational impulses in the oppm site direction are rendered ineffective, and vice versa, and two yieldable means acting on the ends of said flexible member respectively for maintaining tension on the ends thereof to insure friction between the flexible member and the shaft.

3. In combination with a shaft, of means for rectifying oppositely acting rotational impulses acting thereon comprising a twoended flexible member Wrapped around said shaft, two anchorage means, one for each end of said flexible member, and means for selectively rendering one on the other of said anchorage means effective, whereby rotational impulses in one direction are rendered effective and rotational impulses in the op osite direction are rendered ineffective, an vice versa, each anchorage means comprising a pivoted member secured to the flexible memher.

4. In combination with a shaft, of means for rectifying oppositely acting rotational impulses acting thereon comprising a twoended flexible member wrapped around said shaft, two anchorage means, one for each end of said flexible member, and means for selectively rendering one or the other of said anchorage means effective, whereby r0- tational impulses in one direction are rendered effective and rotational impulses in the opposite direction are rendered inefi'ective and vice versa, each anchorage means comprising a pivoted member secured to the flexible member, said selective means comprising cam means acting on said pivoted member.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

ADIEL Y. DODGE. 

